Chemainus

Chemainus, British Columbia, Real Estate: “The Little Town That Did”

Chemainus is a quaint, seaside town nestled in the Chemainus River Valley, approximately eighty kilometres north of Victoria on the east coast of Vancouver Island. It belongs to the district of North Cowichan-along with adjacent communities including Crofton, Saltair, Thetis Island and Penelakut Island. Situated between a mountain range and the Pacific Ocean, Chemainus Harbour is sheltered from the Straight of Georgia by the Gulf Island archipelagos. It’s a mere fifteen minutes to all the amenities of Duncan and a half-hour to Nanaimo, Duke Point and Departure Bay Ferry Terminals.

In recent years, Chemainus has become an international tourist destination. Compact and walkable, it boasts more than forty outdoor murals and eleven sculptures that pay homage to the people and events that helped shape the town; one can take in this outdoor art gallery by foot, trolley car, or horse-drawn carriage. Locals and tourists alike are drawn to the many events that take place throughout the year (see the list below!), notably the world-class productions presented by the Chemainus Theatre Festival. An eclectic, art-driven community surrounded by breathtaking nature, it’s no wonder that houses and condos for sale in Chemainus are not on the market for long!

Are you buying or selling a home in Chemainus? If you require the services of a Chemainus Realtor, or have any questions about the Chemainus Real Estate Market, call Jurgan today (604) 626-1391

Population of Chemainus: Roughly 3,000

Average age of population in years: 7 (Median Age: 61.3)

Average size of household: 1.9

Occupied private dwellings: 1,609

Single detached homes in Chemainus: 920

Semi-detached homes in Chemainus: 155

Apartment buildings with 5+ stories in Chemainus: 0

Apartment buildings with fewer that 5 stories in Chemainus: 335

Row Houses in Chemainus: 95

½ Duplexes in Chemainus: 20

Mobile homes in Chemainus: 0

Source: 2016 Census

Amenities:

Animal Hospital, Chemainus

C. Ambulance of Chemainus

C. Ferries, Chemainus

Canada Post, Chemainus

Eagles, Chemainus Branch

Extended Care Hospital

Fuller Lake Arena, Chemainus

Go Taxi, Chemainus

Golf Course, Chemainus

Legion in Chemainus

Marina in Chemainus

Masons, Chemainus Branch

Museums in Chemainus

RCMP in Chemainus

RE/MAX Ocean Pointe Realty, Chemainus

Rotary Club, Chemainus Branch

Skate Park in Chemainus

Vancouver Island Regional Library, Chemainus Branch

Visitor Centre, Chemainus

Arts and Culture:

Chemainus Theatre Festival

Chemainus Valley Artists Association

Festival of Murals Society, Chemainus

Galleries in Chemainus

Horse-Drawn Tours, Chemainus

Historical Society of Chemainus

Live Theatre, Chemainus

Polka Dot Trail, Chemainus

Sketch Group, Chemainus

Churches:

Calvary Baptist Church, Chemainus

Chemainus United Church

Michael and all Angels Anglican Church, Chemainus

Chemainus Pentecostal

Joseph’s Catholic Church, Chemainus

Chemainus Congregations Church

Crofton United Church, Chemainus

Events:

Accordion Festival, Chemainus

Bluegrass Festival, Chemainus

Canada Day, Chemainus

Chemainus Theatre Festival

Craft Beer and Food Festival, Chemainus

Halloween Harvest Festival, Chemainus

Jazz Festival, Chemainus

Moonlight Madness Shopping and Fun, Chemainus

Remembrance Day in Chemainus

Roots and Blues Festival, Chemainus

Street Market, Chemainus

Summer Entertainment in the Bandshell, Chemainus

Local Schools:

Chemainus Elementary Community School

Chemainus Secondary School

Joseph’s, Chemainus

Parks and Outdoor Adventures:

Artificial Reef, Chemainus

Askew Creek Wilderness Park, Chemainus

Birding Tours in Chemainus

Chemainus Cenotaph

Chemainus Lake Park

Chemainus River

Cycling the Cowichan Valley Scenic Route

Echo Heights Forest, Chemainus

Fuller Lake Park, Chemainus

Geocaching in Chemainus

Hermit’s Trail, Chemainus

Kin Beach Park, Chemainus

Maple Mountain, Chemainus

Mount Provost, Chemainus

New Town, Old Town, Scotchtown, Chemainus

Stocking Creek Park, Saltair

Trans Canada Trail, Chemainus

Waluum Park, Chemainus

Waterwheel Park, Chemainus

Shopping:

Antiquing in Chemainus

Art Galleries in Chemainus

Chemainus dollars

Clothing Boutiques in Chemainus

Gift Shops in Chemainus

Food and drink, Chemainus

La Petite Auction House, Chemainus

Liquor Store, Chemainus

The Secret Garden, Chemainus

“Tis But a Scratch!”

-Monty Python

Legend has it that the town Chemainus was named after a native shaman and prophet, who survived a horrific chest wound to become a powerful Chief that led his people to greatness. His name, Tsa-meeun-is, literally translates to “broken chest”; so impressed with his healing capabilities and the prosperous years that followed under his leadership, the people adopted his name as their own: Stz’uminus First Nation (formally Chemainus Indian Band).

Source: WIKI

Chemainus was an unincorporated logging town back in 1858 when European settlers initially arrived and began to clear land; the first water-driven sawmill was erected in Horseshoe Bay in 1862. The original industries were mining, fishing and forestry: Many Chinese immigrated to the area in the late 1880s, working in ‘bull-gangs’, hauling enormous lumber planks to the ships in the harbour. In later years, Japanese and East Indian immigrants blended with the Scots and the Germans living in the area. By 1904, the library and hospital were already established.

Source: HelloBC

“The Little Town that Did”

In the 1980s, the future of Chemainus was uncertain. The recession hit the area hard; combined with a decrease in global demand for BC forest products, tariffs from the United States, public support for environmentalists and aboriginal land claims, the Chemainus forestry industry faltered. The sawmill closed, replaced by a smaller, more efficient mill, which reduced the number of employees from 600 to 145.

Members of the community realized that for Chemainus to survive, they needed to diversify. The idea of Canada’s largest outdoor art gallery was born; artists were commissioned to paint murals on the walls of neighbourhood buildings, each work depicting an important piece of the town’s history. Entrepreneurial locals set up shops filled with art, clothing and confectionery… The tourists came. Today, although the largest industry of the region is still forestry, Chemainus is now an international destination for those travelling the path between Vancouver Island’s two largest cities.